Road construction hazard - insurance claim?

[widebody911]

Just a bit ago I drove off a small cliff where some road construction has been underway. There wasn't any signage or anything, but there was a sizable drop where they had cut the old road away, and it doesn't look like they put a "ramp" on it ease the transition. I hit it at about 20MPH in the M3, which resulted in a huge "blam" as the car hit something and scared the crap out of me. Now I have a nasty vibration and a lot of drivetrain and exhaust noise. I limped the car back home, but it's too dark to inspect.

Is this something for which I'd file a claim against my insurance company? How about against the idiots that left a huge gap in the road?

[stomachmonkey]

Worth a shot.

Had a similar incident in the 911 a few years back, bent both rear rims.

I tried but got no where.

[onewhippedpuppy]

That sucks. Worth a shot, though dealing with smarmy insurance companies is painful.

[MRM]

Yes. It is a covered claim as long as you have comprehensive coverage.

[Joeaksa]

Thom,

Pls return immediately and get photos of the site. That way you can document that there are no barriers, cones or the like. Also get a close up with something to document the size of the drop.

Then you have something to work with....

[Rick Lee]

Yeah, I'd have stopped right away to take photos. I had a buddy get a big ticket for parking in a handicapped spot. There was no sign and the paint on the spot was totally faded. He went back a day later to take photos (this was before digicams and cell phones) and the spot had been repainted and a new sign posted.

[Joeaksa]

Rick,

Wonder how many got trapped in that space? Or did a policemans or politicians wife get a ticket and make the call that got the paint and sign put up!

[Rick Lee]

It was on university property and ticketed by university police. I'm sure they just decided to write the ticket and then make sure it couldn't be contested.

[Joeaksa]

Thank God for cell phone cameras. They sure have helped in the last few years on things like this!

[widebody911]

Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera handy.

I called my insurance company, and they say it's covered, but under my collision coverage; basically they're calling it a solo-vehicle crash.

I just put the car in the air and took a look. Nothing obvious from underneath without removing all of the various covers, but it shudders horribly when releasing the clutch, and the exhaust is really loud - like Honda fart-pipe loud.

[Rick Lee]

I had similar symptoms when I got rear ended very hard in my E46 while boxed in at a red light. There was no visible damage. But when the dealer went over it, they said the hit had bent my whole exhaust system up to the mainfold. Car was a steptronic and in gear at the time of the hit. I had my foot on the brake and was at rest. The hit pushed me into the car in front of me and took his trunk lid off. Still, no visible damage on my car, but it made noise until they replace the exhaust and manifold.

[McLovin]

File a claim with the city, or state, or whatever entity is responsible for the road work, for sure.

If you can, go back ASAP and take pictures of the scene.

You have a good claim.

[MRM]

It's not an uncomon claim. You can bring a claim against the city/state (they get scads every year) or you can just make the claim with your insurer and eat the deductible.

What you should do is bring your car in right away and get it fixed and submit the claim to your insurer and get reimbursed for everything they will cover. Then take your photos, insurance documents and your itemization of your out of pocket expense not covered by your insurer and contact the state/city agency who controls road maintenance. There will be someone whose job it is to respond to claims like yours. Just follow up with them and complete their claim process.

[vash]

Caltrans job?

if so, the contractor is required to protect the public. and their insurance picks up that tab. pictures are worth gold.

[Rick Lee]

I had a county garbage truck hit my parked SAAB while I was in a store. Thankfully, a cop witnessed it and waited by my car for me to return. He said the county self-insured, but gave me the report and told me whom to call. It was some private adjuster who contracted with the county. Took a while to make things happen, but they eventually cut me a check for the estimate.

[widebody911]

/sadtrombone

[notmytarga]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I had a buddy get a big ticket for parking in a handicapped spot. There was no sign and the paint on the spot was totally faded. He went back a day later to take photos (this was before digicams and cell phones) and the spot had been repainted and a new sign posted.

A day later he was likely much more sober too. Okay, maybe the sun came out too!

[widebody911]

This was a surface street, so it probably wouldn't be Caltrans. It's probably been fixed by now, so I'm screwed in that regard.

[McLovin]

Not necessarily.

Find out who was responsible for the construction (what govt entity), and submit a claim to them, along with the receipt for the repairs.

Yeah, if the road problem has since been fixed (so you can't get any pictures), your evidence isn't as nice, but you can still submit a claim. Pictures are just a "niceity," but they aren't necessary for you to get reimbursed. You'll submit a statement under penalty of perjury, and that's your evidence.

There may be others that have submitted claims, and the govt may be very well aware of the problem.

(P.S. if it's a surface street, it's likely the city that is in charge).

[stealthn]

Get a police report too